andresen



Jan. 31, 1956 A. o. ANDRESEN METAL FORMING PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1955 Jan. 31, 1956 A. o. ANDRESEN 2,732,879

METAL FORMING PRESS Filed Feb. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 31. 1956 AAAAAAAAAA EN United States Patent METAL FORMING PRESS Arne 0. Andresen, Allen Park, Mich., assignor to Krupp Forge Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 16, 1953, Serial No. 337,087

3 Claims. (Cl. 153-25 This invention relates to improvements in metal forming pressesand more particularly relates to such a press for finishing a partially formed article.

,A principal object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved press of a simplified construction for performing a finishing forming operation on a a partially formed article. a

Another object of my invention is to provide a metal forming press having two cooperating holding dies conforming to and rigidly holding a partially finished article and having a forming die having a die face cooperating with a die face of one of the holding dies for performing a forming operation on the partially formed article.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simple improved form of hydraulic press of a novel construction, having stationary and movable dies engageable with a partially finished article and holding the article free from distortion during a finish operation thereof, one of said holding dies having a die face extending at an angle to the "article, and said press having a third die engageable with a projecting end of the article and forming the same to conform to the die face of said one die.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a hydraulic metal forming press having a fixed die with a die face adapted to supportinglyreceive a partially finished article and a movable die moved by fluid under pressure to hold the article into engagement with the die face of the fixed die, and also having a third die having a die face cooperating with the movable die, for bending the article into engagement therewith.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved form of metal forming press for finish bending a forged link of a type forming a part of the tread of a continuous traction device wherein the link is rigidly held between two dies by fluid under pressure, and wherein a third hydraulically operated bending die is provided for cooperation with said two dies to place a predetermined bend on a projecting portion of the link.

A still further and more detailed object of my invention is to provide a rugged and efiicient form of metal forming press having two side plates having a hydraulically operated holding die mounted therebetween, and having a hydraulically operated bending die guided in the side plates for movement therealong and vertically moved along side of the holding die to place a finish bend on a projecting portion of a forged article. 1 These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the'following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a metal forming press constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a front end view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line IIIIII of Figure 2 and showing certain details of the bending and holding dies not shown in Figures .1 and 2; 1

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Figure 4 is a fluid diagram showing the fluid connections .for supplying fluid under pressure to the holding and bending dies;

FigureS is aview in side elevation of a link of a continuous traction tread device formed by the press of my invention; and 1 Figure 6 is a plan view of the link shown in Figure 5.

In the embodiment ofmy invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown a press 10 mounted on a base 11, shown as being formed from structural members suitably connected together, as by welding. The rear end portion of the base 11 is shown as having a tank 12 mounted thereon. A motor 13 is shown as being mounted on the top of said tank and as driving a pump indicated generally by reference character 15. a

The tank 12 and pump 15 form a source of supply of fluid under pressure for anupper holding cylinder 16 for engaging a holding die 17 with a partially formed article 18 and holding the article to a stationary die 19 for a finish bending operation on the article. The pump 15 also supplies fiuid under pressure to a lower cylinder 21, moving a bending die 22 on a vertically guided plate 23, into engagement with a projecting end portion 24 of the article and cooperating with the die 17 to perform a finish bending operation on the article.

The article 18 is shown in Figures 4 and 5 as being a tread link of a continuous traction tread device. It should be understood, however, that while I have herein shown the article as being a link of a continuous traction tread device, that various other articles may be formed, particularly such articles where his necessary to bend a part thereof at an angle to the main body thereof, after a forging and stripping operation of the article.

The stationary holding die 19 is shown as being mounted on the top surface of a die block 25 by means of cap screws 27, 27, extending through the die block 25 from the bottom thereof and threaded within said holding die 19. The die block 25 is shown as extending across and being recessed at itsends, within two parallel spaced vertically extending side plates 29, 29, of the press 11. Cap screws 30, 30 are provided to secure the die block 25 between said side plates. 1 i

The side plates 29, 29 maybe welded or.otherwise secured to the frame 11 and extend upwardly therefrom in paralled relation with respect to each other. A base plate '31 is shown as being recessed within the side plates 29, 29 at its ends, adjacent thelower end of said side plates and as extending thereacross. Cap screws 32, 32 extending through and having their heads recessed within the side. plates 29, 29 are threaded in opposite ends of the base plate 31 to secure said base plate to said side plate and to space said side plates apart at their lower ends.

A back plate 33 is shown as connecting the side plates 29, 29 together. As herein shown, the back plate 33 extends beyond opposite sides of the side plates 29, 29, and is formed with gibs 34, 34 at'its ends. The insides of the gibs 34, 34 are .abutted by the outer sides of the side plates 29, 29, to accurately maintain said side plates in parallel relation with respect to each other. Cap screws 35, 35 are shown as being provided to secure said back plate to said sideplates.

The top cylinder 16 is shown as extending downwardly through and as being secured to a mounting block 37, secured to the bottoms of guide blocks 39, 39 as by cap screws 40, 40. The blocks 39, 39 are each shown as having inwardly extending projecting portions 38, 38 recessed within the side plates 29, 29 and secured thereto by cap screws 41, 41. A collar 43 encircling and secured to the cylinder 16 is shown as abutting the top of the mounting block 37.

A fluid connection '44: is shown as being connected with the mounting block 37 for supplying fluid under pressure to the piston rod end of the cylinder 16, to release the die 17 from the article beingheld thereby. A fluid connection 45 is provided. at the;head=;end,of the cylinder '16 forsupplying fluid under pressure. thereto'tohold'the 'die 17 in engagement with the article. Thesupply .and re lease of fluid under pressure-toandfrom theheadand piston rod ends of. the cylinder 16 is undercontrol 'of.a valve 46 connected with the pump through a pressure line 42, and mounted on one side. plate29.

The cylinder 16 has a piston (not shown) movable therein having a piston rod47 .extending'therefrom and extensible from said cylinder. 'The lower end of the piston rod 47 is-shown as .extendin'g within asocketed mounting bracket 49 and .as.:being connected thereto as by a pivot pin 50. The mounting bracket 49 in turn is shown as being secured tothettop face of a-die block 51 as by cap screws 52, 52. The: die .block 51 is shown as having the diev 17 recessed withinzthe lowerface thereof.

.A. means isprovided forguidingthedie block 51 and die. 17 for rectilinear. movement. towardiand from the die 19, which isherein shown as beingtwo. spaced vertically extending guiderods 53,53 mounted in the die19and extending upwardly therefrom 'and slidably engaging bearing sleeves 54, 54 mounted in the die-block 51, adjacent the outer side thereof.

The. plate23 is shown as beingslidably guidedat its opposite ends along vertically extending'ichanneled guides 55, 55 herein shown aslbeing recessed within the'side plates 29, 29 and as extending vertically-along the forward end portions ofsaid side plates. The cylinder 21, vertically moving the plate 23 along the channeled guides 55, 55, is shown ashaving a bifurcated mounting bracket 57, depending from its head-end. The furcations of the mounting 57 extend downwardly-along opposite sides of a cylinder mounting 59 and are. pivotally connected thereto as by a transverse pivot pin 60. The cylinder mounting 59 is shown as being supported on the top surface of the base plate 31, and as being secured thereto as by machine screws 62, 62.

A piston rod 63=extending from a piston (not'shown) within the cylinder 21, is shown as exten'dingwithin-a socket 64 depending from the .plate 23 for vertically moving said plate along the guides 55,55.

A fluid connection 65 is shown. as-being provided to supply fluid under pressure tothe head end of'the cylinder 21. A fluid connection. 66 is shown as being provided to admitfluid under pressure tothe-piston rod end of the cylinder 21. .Fluid under pressure is admitted to either the head or piston rodaends ofthe cylinder 21 under the control .ofza valve 69. shown as being 'mounted on and projecting. from .the'opposite' side plate 29 from the valve 46,.and as :beingcc'snnectedin series with the valve 46. i I

The valve-691s shown as'being connected with'the valve 46, through a pressure line 71 and as being con nected with the tank.12,.through areturn line 72.

Upward movement of the bending plate-23 and the bending die 22 maybe limited bya suitableadjustable stopping means herein; shown. asfbeing 'two spaced machine screws 73, 73. The machine screws 73,'73 are threaded in the bottom of .a. spacer bar 7-4,'connected betweenthe forward end portions of the side plates 29, 29, and recessed therein at-its ends. Lock nuts 75, 75 are provided to hold the stops.73, 73 in the required position. i

The. bending die 22;is shown in Figure 3-- asv being recessed within an upwardly and inwardly opening recess 77, formed in inner upper end portions of the'bending plate 23 and as being securedthereto.by-machine screws 79, 79. The bendingdie-22is shown as having an inner bending or working face 80inclined to. conform to the formof thearticle. being formedand projecting-inwardly from the inner face of the plate 23. iThe;.-inclined- .die

face of the bending die 22 is also shown as having a .uniformly rounded upper. engaging. end portion 81..engaging beneath the ear or flap,24 upon upward movement of the bending plate 23 and wiping and bending the flap to conform to a recessed die face 83, formed in the die block 51, to form the projection 24 to the form of the face 83, upon clamping of the article 18 between the dies 17 and 19, and upon upward" movement of the bending die 22 by the application of fluid under pressure to the head end of the cylinder 21.

In operation of the-press, apartially'finished link 18, which has first been forged by a drop forge process with the projecting lug- 24 extending. outwardly inthe plane of the upper surface of the link and is then stripped, is placed in the die 19 in the position shown in Figure 3, while at a hot working temperature, with the projection 24 extending into position to be engaged by the face 80 of the bending die 22. Fluid under pressure is then admitted-to the head end of'thecylinder -16 -by operation of the valve 46 to engage'the'die "17 with the forged; link and rigidly hold the link-to the die'19. Fluidunder pressure may then be'admitted-tothe headend of the cylinder 21 to move 'the plate '23 andbending die '22 upwardly'and wipe the 'undersurface of the projecting portion 24 of the link with the die face/80, and-uniformly bend the projecting portion of the link to conform to the face 83 of the die block51. The stops 73, 73 may be adjusted to limit vertical movement 'of the die block to aposition' wherethe 'face thereof exactly'conforms to the outer face ofan'upwardly'bent lug-or projection 24. w

Itwill be" understood that modifications and variations may be effected'without departing from the scope'ofthe novel concepts of the present invention.

I-clairn as my invention:

1. A metal forming press comprising a frame having a base; parallel spaced side walls-"extending upwardly from said base and a back wall connectingsaid side walls together, a stationary die mounted between and secured to said side walls and-spacing the same apart and having an upwardly facing 'die faceformed to conform to and; supportingly receive a partially formed article, a' movable die slidably guided insaid side wallsfor movement toward and from said stationary die, said movable die having a die face formed to conform to a -partially formed; article and adapted to engage the article to be formed with said stationary die and hold the same tosaid stationary die free from deformation, power means engaging said' movable die with the article to be formed, a bending die guided between said side walls and'vertically movable from beneat]; said stationary die in' a path intersecting a projecting portion-ofthearticle to bef'formed, said movable die havinga recessed *die face -extending in the general plane of movementof said bending 'die and said *ben'ding "die having a cooperating ldie face wiping-the-projectingjportion of the article to be formed upwardly-into-engagement with saidrecessed die' face.

2. A metal forming press comprising'a frame having a base, parallel spaced side walls extending upwardly from said base, a backwall extending upwardly'from said base and connectingsaid side walls-together,astationarydie recessed withinsaid side walls at itsends, said stationary die. havingguide rods extending upwardly therefrom, a movable die mounted between said sidewalls and slidably guided on said guide rods, said stationary and movable dies having. cooperating die facesconforming' to the form of an'article to be formed .andadapted to engage and hold the:article to'be formed free-fromdeformation with an end thereof projectingbeyond-said dies,"hydraulic cylinder and piston means-mounted betweensaid side: plates adjacent the upper ends thereof and having connection with: saidmovable .die for vertically. moving the same toward and from said stationarydie, a bending die, said-side plates having recessed: guides extending. along-one side of said stationary and movable dies forslidablysreceiving mun...

and guiding opposite ends of said bending die, hydraulic cylinder and piston means operatively connected with said bending die for moving the same in a path intersecting the projecting end of the article to be formed, said movable die having a recessed die face extending along one side thereof, and said bending die having a cooperating projecting die face for wiping engagement with a projecting end portion of an article to be formed to wipe the projecting end portion of the article to be formed along said recessed die face.

3. A metal forming press comprising a frame having a base, parallel spaced side walls extending upwardly from said base, a back wall extending upwardly from said base and connecting said side walls together, a stationary die recessed within said side walls at its ends, said stationary die having guide rods extending upwardly therefrom, a movable die mounted between said side walls and slidably guided on said guide rods, said stationary and movable dies having cooperating die faces conforming to the form of an article to be formed and adapted to engage and hold the article to be formed free from deformation with an end thereof projecting beyond said dies, hydraulic cylinder and piston means mounted between said side plates adjacent the upper ends thereof and having connection with said movable die for moving the same toward and from said stationary die, a bending die, said side plates having recessed guides extending along one side of said stationary and movable dies for slidably receiving and guiding opposite ends of said bending die, hydraulic cylinder and piston means operatively connected with said bending die for moving the same in a path intersecting the projecting end of the article to be formed, said movable die having a recessed die face extending along one side thereof, and said bending die having a cooperating projecting die face movable into said recessed portion to wipe the projecting end portion of the article to. be formed into said recessed die face, a tie bar connecting said side plates together adjacent the upper ends thereof, out- Wardly of said stationary and movable dies, and stopping means on said tie bar in the path of movement of said bending die, and limiting vertical movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schade Oct. 18, 1938 

1. A METAL FORMING PRESS COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING A BASE, PARALLEL SPACED SIDE WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE AND A BACK WALL CONNECTING SAID SIDE WALLS TOGETHER, A STATIONARY DIE MOUNTED BETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID SIDE WALLS AND SPACING THE SAME APART AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING DIE FACE FORMED TO CONFORM TO AND SUPPORTINGLY RECEIVE A PARTIALLY FORMED ARTICLE, A MOVABLE DIE SLIDABLY GUIDED IN SAID SIDE WALLS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND FROM SAID STATIONARY DIE, SAID MOVABLE DIE HAVING A DIE FACE FORMED TO CONFORM TO A PARTIALLY FORMED ARTICLE AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE ARTICLE TO BE FORMED WITH SAID STATIONARY DIE AND HOLD THE SAME TO SAID STATIONARY DIE FREE FROM DEFORMATION, POWER MEANS ENGAGING SAID MOVABLE DIE WITH THE ARTICLE TO BE FORMED, A BENDING DIE GUIDED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE FROM BENEATH SAID STATIONARY DIE IN A PATH INTERSECTING A PROJECTING PORTION OF THE ARTICLE TO BE FORMED, SAID MOVABLE DIE HAVING A RECESSED DIE FACE EXTENDING IN THE GENERAL PLANE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BENDING DIE AND SAID BENDING DIE HAVING A COOPERATING DIE FACE WIPING THE PROJECTING PORTION OF THE ARTICLE TO BE FORMED UPWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RECESSED DIE FACE. 